Airport Experience® News - ACDBE Issue 2026

LATEST BUZZ

Right: The Yards is one of several new restaurants from SSP America under a new contract signed in 2024.

Behind the design is Minneapolis-based architecture firm Alliiance . Principals Eric Peterson, April Meyer and Ben Johnson, along with senior associate and project manager Joe Simma, shaped a project that had to stay fully operational throughout construction. Peterson describes the core challenge as “fitting a jigsaw puzzle piece into the existing building,” with careful sequencing to make sure there was never a net loss in gates at any point during construction. The team looked to the landscape for inspiration, drawing on the transition from the Cascade Mountains eastward, and translating those textures into materials, colors and wood details throughout the space. “Wayfinding signs were modeled after trail markers that you find hiking on trails in the region,” Johnson says. “Not just wayfinding elements, but also a place to discover and connect with the region.” Meyer focused on passenger experience within the space, incorporating a wide variety of seating types so travelers could use the terminal on their own terms. On sustainability, the formal decision to pursue LEED certification came late in the process, but the team had already built a strong performance baseline. “From a design standpoint, it was more sharpening our thinking on materials, making sure we were using low-emitting materials and thinking about life cycle analysis,” Simma says. Planning The Central Hall With Concourse C nearing completion, GEG’s attention is turning to what comes next. The centerpiece of the next phase is a new Central Hall, a 255,000-square foot addition that will finally bring the airport’s two primary terminal buildings under one roof. “The goal of the Central Hall project is to consolidate the two terminal buildings,” Corcoran says. “Key benefits of this project include the streamlining of passenger screening and baggage claim operations, improved post-security connectivity between the airport’s A, B and

C concourses, and the ability to integrate improved passenger and family-focused amenities across all concourses.” Curbside canopy improvements and a reconfigured roadway are also part of the phase, elevating the passenger experience from drop-off to the gate and back to baggage claim. The modernization of Concourses A and B is planned under the TREX umbrella as well, bringing restroom, nursing-mothers and companion care facilities in line with what has been built in Concourse C. The project is funded through bonds, federal CARES funds, Passenger Facility Charges and an $11 million FAA grant from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, with no local tax dollars involved. The economic impact is substantial, with nearly 1,200 jobs created, $87 million in additional household revenue for the region and an estimated $313 million in economic activity statewide. Concessions Changes Alongside the physical expansion, GEG embarked on a multi-year initiative to overhaul its concessions program, with a deliberate focus on local flavors and brands. The effort required the design and construction of new restaurant and retail concepts throughout the airport, running concurrently with the construction itself. In 2024, SSP America was tapped to oversee the operation of nearly six retail locations and be responsible for developing and operating 11 restaurant locations. Some

of the new restaurants – including Puerto Tacos. Tortas. Cantina and Meltz Extreme Grilled Cheese in Concourse C; and Thomas Hammer and Method Juice Café in the A/B Rotunda – opened in recent months. Still to come are The Yards Bruncheon and Shelby’s Burgers in the A/B Rodunda, Wiley’s Downtown Bistro in Concourse B, Jack & Dan’s in Concourse A, and Iron Goat Brewing and Indaba Coffee in Concourse C, with an additional Indaba Coffee to be located pre-security. Incorporating new concessions buildouts alongside the general terminal construction has been challenging. “One of the most complex aspects of building in an active airport isn’t necessarily the construction,” Corcoran says. “It’s maintaining continuity and efficiency for our passengers. Being able to balance progress with passengers’ evolving needs has taken careful consideration and phasing of workflows, strong partnerships and ongoing communication.” Peterson, sizing up GEG against Alliiance ’s broader portfolio, sees a project that delivered on every front. “It’s one of the best examples of creating a nice throughline of harmonizing elements, whether we’re upgrading existing space or expanding,” he says. “We’re really proud of this project. We think it hits on all cylinders from passenger experience to functionality to sense of place. It doesn’t happen by chance.” With TREX, GEG is staking out its place as a major regional hub, one built to handle 6.2 million passengers and deliver an experience worthy of the region it serves.

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AX NEWS JUNE 2026